Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ScrollMagic VS Spline

Compare ScrollMagic VS Spline and see what are their differences

ScrollMagic logo ScrollMagic

The jQuery plugin for magical scroll interactions.

Spline logo Spline

Design tool for 3d web experiences
Not present
  • Spline Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-03

ScrollMagic features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    ScrollMagic provides a straightforward API that allows developers to easily create scroll-based animations and interactions without extensive knowledge of complex animation frameworks.
  • Flexible Animation Triggers
    It supports flexible animation trigger points and scroll positions, enabling precise control over when and how animations occur during scrolling.
  • Compatibility
    ScrollMagic is built to work seamlessly with animation libraries such as GSAP and Velocity.js, which can be leveraged to create complex animations.
  • Rich Documentation
    The library comes with detailed documentation and examples, making it easier for developers to understand and implement scroll animations.
  • Extensibility
    ScrollMagic allows for a high degree of customization and extensibility, enabling developers to build unique scroll-triggered animations tailored to project-specific requirements.

Possible disadvantages of ScrollMagic

  • Dependency on Third-party Libraries
    While ScrollMagic itself is lightweight, it often requires third-party libraries like GSAP for more advanced animations, which can increase the overall project size.
  • Limited Built-in Animation Capabilities
    The library focuses on scroll events rather than animations. Developers might need additional libraries to achieve advanced animation effects.
  • Learning Curve for Complex Interactions
    For developers unfamiliar with scroll-based animation, creating highly complex interactions may require a learning curve to fully leverage the library's capabilities.
  • Performance Concerns
    In projects with heavy DOM manipulation or large numbers of elements being animated simultaneously, performance issues might arise, particularly in less modern browsers.
  • Maintenance and Updates
    As of its last release, ScrollMagic might not be as actively maintained as other newer libraries, posing potential issues with future compatibility and bug fixes.

Spline features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Spline offers a highly intuitive and clean interface that makes it accessible for both beginners and professional designers.
  • Real-Time Collaboration
    Allows multiple users to work on the same design simultaneously, improving teamwork and productivity.
  • Interactivity
    Spline enables users to create interactive 3D designs, which can enhance the user experience in applications or on websites.
  • Web-Based Platform
    Being a web-based platform, it can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, promoting flexibility and convenience.
  • Export Options
    Various export options are available, including the ability to export designs as code or embed them directly into websites.

Possible disadvantages of Spline

  • Performance Issues
    Being web-based, it might have performance limitations when handling very complex or large 3D models compared to dedicated software.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Might lack some advanced features and tools available in more specialized 3D design software, potentially restricting advanced users.
  • Internet Dependency
    Requires a stable internet connection to be used effectively, which could be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity.
  • File Compatibility
    May not support all file types or formats, which could hinder workflows that involve multiple design tools.
  • Subscription Cost
    Some features might be locked behind a subscription model, which could add to the operational costs for freelancers or small teams.

ScrollMagic videos

ScrollMagic 101 - Controller, Scene and triggerElement

More videos:

  • Review - ScrollMagic 101 - A Simple Parallax Effect

Spline videos

Spline 3D Review | Create amazing 3D for the Web!

More videos:

  • Review - First Look at Design Tool for 3D, Spline
  • Review - Harbor Freight 3/8" & 1/2" Spline Drive Socket Set Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ScrollMagic and Spline)
3D
24 24%
76% 76
Design Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Animation
100 100%
0% 0
JavaScript
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Spline should be more popular than ScrollMagic. It has been mentiond 52 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ScrollMagic mentions (25)

  • Top 10 JavaScript Animation Libraries
    ScrollMagic (14.8k ⭐) — A library for creating scroll interactions with JavaScript and CSS. It can trigger animations based on scroll position and pin elements within the viewport. It has over 11K stars on GitHub. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • Implementing scroll-aware UI state with CSS
    Several libraries and frameworks can help with this task, such as ScrollTrigger, ScrollMagic, Framer Motion, and the good ol’ Intersection Observer API. These tools provide more options and flexibility to create complex and interactive scroll-driven animations with ease. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • How achieve this SVG/CSS Animation?
    By checking their source code, it looks like they're using DrawSvgPlugin for the SVG animations and ScrollMagic for the animations when scrolling. I'd start by checking these two libraries. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • How to re-create a vertical Card Slider, similar to Refokus
    One library is called https://scrollmagic.io/ but you'll find plenty of tutorials and videos that implement this kind of scrolling. Source: about 2 years ago
  • What's the name of this? Or how can I recreate it?
    ScrollMagic (there's a scrollMagic port for react too). These libraries take advantage of the intersection observer API (a standard built-in js web api). You may also be interested in the scroll event. Source: over 2 years ago
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Spline mentions (52)

  • Getting Started with Spline 🎭: The Future of 3D Web Design
    3D design is no longer reserved for high-end graphics professionals. With tools like Spline, anyone can create stunning 3D designs right in their browser. Whether you're a web designer looking to add a new dimension to your projects or a developer curious about the possibilities, Spline offers a user-friendly platform to bring your 3D ideas to life. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • Top 15 Tools for Frontend Developers: Optimize Your Workflow
    Spline is a free 3D design software that allows you to create interactive web experiences. With Spline, you can design, animate, and integrate 3D objects into your web pages. This tool is perfect for adding a new dimension to your projects and engaging users with interactive elements. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Most valuable skills in design?
    Before UX, I was an Industrial Designer. I used Solidworks and KeyShot (and some Unreal Engine for Arch Viz). If you don't plan on doing Arch Viz or serious ID, then you should look at other 3D programs that's easier to learn. Check out: https://spline.design/, Adobe's (I forgot which one), or Vectary. I personally prefer Spline. I haven't touched it in awhile though cos I have been coding more lately. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Hey guys 👋 i need help what should I have to learn first Blender or Maya .
    You could start with Spline right from a web browser for free. It’s fairly new but very approachable for a total 3D newbie and you could offer your work to web builder who need to inject 3D into their websites with ease, and you can export AR experiences for iOS devices. Then you can move up to Blender to create more complex scenes. https://spline.design. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Is there a similar tool to this one?
    I just started making 3d models and stumbled upon https://spline.design/, this thing is like the Figma of 3D but it paid and I cannot export my models, I have a shitty low-end laptop but it works well (i3 10 gen, 8GB, and SSD) please recommend a tool that has the same functionality keeping in mind my restraints. (I just want to make 3d assets for websites or games and export them in gltf, glb, stl formats). Source: almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing ScrollMagic and Spline, you can also consider the following products

WOW.js - Animate elements on-scroll to catch attention. Such Magic.

Vectary - Vectary is a free, online 3D modeling tool and sharing platform.

ScrollReveal - ScrollReveal is a tool to add scroll animations for web and mobile browsers.

Womp - 3D Made Easy

Lax.js - Create beautiful & smooth animations when you scroll

Blender - Blender is the open source, cross platform suite of tools for 3D creation.